Star-studded fields on Kentucky Oaks undercard

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Led by elite older females Curalina and Sheer Drama, 51 horses were entered in five supporting stakes on Friday’s Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs.

Curalina and Sheer Drama, third and fourth, respectively, in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last fall at Keeneland, meet for the first time since that race in the Grade 1, $300,000 La Troienne, the first stakes on Kentucky Oaks Day, going off as the sixth race at 1:26 p.m Eastern on a 13-race card that begins at 10:30 a.m.

Although Curalina finished in front of Sheer Drama in their one meeting last year, the latter is expected to go off favored, having won last month’s Grade 1 Madison in her seasonal debut. Curalina, on the other hand, is making her first start of the year in the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne.

The other four undercard stakes also feature at least one Grade 1 winner, with Grade 2, $200,000 Eight Belles drawing 2015 Frizette winner Nickname; the Grade 3, $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint catching 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny; the Grade 2, $400,000 Alysheba attracting 2015 Stephen Foster winner Noble Bird and 2014 Gold Cup at Santa Anita winner Majestic Harbor; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Edgewood landing 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Catch a Glimpse

The Eight Belles, at seven furlongs on the main track, is so strong that Nickname is unlikely to go favored. Carina Mia, whose connections had hoped to run her in the Kentucky Oaks but chose the Eight Belles as an alternative when she appeared likely to be excluded from an overdrawn Oaks, instead figures as the public choice.

Hootenanny is one of many contenders in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint, which drew 13 horses, including defending champion Power Alert.

Contention similarly runs deep in the Alysheba, with Ben Ali winner Eagle and Santana Mile winner Cat Burglar among the prominent entries.

Matching the Twin Spires Turf Sprint for entries is the Edgewood with a cast of 13, despite the presence of Catch a Glimpse, the last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, who is unbeaten in five races on grass.

Two races, a maiden contest and a starter allowance, follow the Kentucky Oaks, which goes off at 5:49. The last of the 13 races on the 8 ½-hour card is set for 7:00 p.m.